Numbers from the Case Western Reserve University Greek community’s 365 Days of Service Campaign have been tallied, and the chapters reported 12,680 hours of service in all. Additionally, they collected $42,886.50 in donations and 15,771 cans of food.
This is a slight increase in the number of hours completed in recent years, said Mike Dzuricky, vice president of service for the Interfraternity Congress. With such high standards, he noted, any increase is welcome to he and Panhellenic Council VP of Service Emily Lawson.
The service hours must be completed with other members of the Greek community or sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement and Learning (CCEL), and they must benefit individuals or organizations outside of the Case Western Reserve University community.
Chapters volunteered or donated to more than 85 charities, with the most hours being served at Saturday of Service (920), Habitat for Humanity (814) and Hiram House (658.5). Other top spots for volunteer hours were Cleveland Food Bank (598), Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital (526), Service Symposium (438.5), Big Brothers Big Sisters (418), Shaker Heights Family Center (345) and Day in the Life (342.5).
The semiannual Saturday of Service event (which takes place this fall Nov. 12) expanded last year through a collaboration with CCEL, allowing more Greeks to participate. About 200 Greek Life students took part last year, which was a “major improvement” over years prior, Dzuricky said.
This high rate of participation not only helps the organizations for which they volunteer, but it also helps the members of the Greek community. “Regular volunteering by any individual member will not only help them grow personally, but also make them more attractive graduate school or job applicant,” he said. Plus, “it’s very rewarding and fun.”
Additionally, community service is a major factor in increasing Case Western Reserve’s reputation among Greek systems across the country, Dzuricky said. Since 2000, Panhellenic Council and IFC have been awarded best council honors eight and six times, respectively, an award which greatly acknowledges a system’s community service efforts.
Twenty-one chapters received plaques for completing or, in most cases, exceeding their portion of the campaign. Those chapters were: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Gamma, Delta Chi, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phil Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Tau, Phi Kappa Theta, Phi Mu, Phi Sigma Rho, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Psi, Theta Chi, Zeta Beta Tau and Zeta Psi.
This is the 17th year the Greek community has challenged themselves with completing 365 days worth of service, totaling 8,750 hours; the total reported is the equivalent of 528 days.